Inch Wildfowl Reserve

Inch Wildfowl Reserve is an internationally significant destination and staging ground for migrating from three continents. This global importance is recognised by the area’s designation as a Special Protected Area (SPA) under the EU birds directive.

Excellent Bird Watching

Whether you are a serious wildfowl enthusiast or a novice bird watcher the Inch Levels Wildfowl reserve provides excellent winter viewing opportunities for the Whooper Swan and Greenland White-fronted Goose and Greylag Goose.

Beautiful Walks

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you can take advantage of over 8km of idyllic country walks, surrounding the perimeter of Inch Lake.

Woodland Education Area

The Inch Woodland Education area is the ideal place for school visits with a range of curriculum-based learning tools for primary and post-primary level groups.

Picnic Areas

There are designated picnic areas to take time out to relax, refresh and renew.

History

Inch Lough was created from the estuarine mud of Lough Swilly in the late 19th Century when two embankments were built to link Inch Island to the mainland on behalf of the Derry & Lough Swilly Railway. A railway embankment was then built dividing the area - the inner part (Inch Levels) being further drained to create polders or sloblands for agricultural use, while the outer part (Inch Lough) acted as a holding reservoir or lake for drainage water. This large-scale engineering project transformed the area and has provided a resting stop for many travelling wildfowl, and is now an excellent to spend your day!